Can I download Apple Music on my Windows laptop?

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

Yes, it is possible to download and use Apple Music on a Windows laptop, but it requires a few extra steps compared to using it on Apple devices. The Apple Music app is not natively available for Windows, so you need to access Apple Music through iTunes or the web player on a Windows laptop.

Downloading Apple Music with iTunes

The easiest way to get Apple Music on a Windows laptop is by downloading iTunes. iTunes is Apple’s desktop app for managing iOS devices and media on Windows and Mac computers. Here are the steps to download Apple Music with iTunes on a Windows laptop:

Download and install the latest version of iTunes from Apple’s website.

Open iTunes and sign in using your Apple ID that is associated with your Apple Music subscription.
Go to Account > View My Account and make sure the Apple Music subscription is active.
Go to Music at the top of iTunes to access your Apple Music library.

Search for songs, albums, artists, playlists, stations, etc. and add them to your library.
Click the download button next to any item to download it for offline playback.
Downloaded Apple Music content will have a little arrow next to it.

The main benefits of using iTunes for Apple Music on Windows are:

Downloads songs for offline listening.
Syncs playlists and library across devices.

Works seamlessly with iOS devices when connected.
Access full Apple Music catalog and personalized recommendations.

The downsides are that iTunes can feel slow and bloated compared to dedicated music apps. But overall it provides the most robust Apple Music experience on Windows.

Using the Apple Music Web Player

Another option is to use the Apple Music web player from a browser on your Windows laptop. Here’s how:

Go to music.apple.com in any web browser.
Sign in with your Apple ID that has an Apple Music subscription.

Search for content or browse recommendations, new releases etc.
Add music, albums and playlists to your library.
Use the playback controls to stream songs.

The Apple Music web player allows you to stream from the service without downloading any app. The advantages are:

Simple access from any browser.
Stream Apple Music anywhere conveniently.

Less storage space used on your laptop.

The downsides are:

No ability to download songs for offline playback.

Limited features compared to iTunes app.
No desktop notifications or integration with media keys.

But overall, the web player provides an easy way to get Apple Music on a Windows laptop for streaming access.

Using Third-Party Apps

There are also some third-party apps that allow access to Apple Music on Windows laptops:

Musi – Lightweight app focused just on streaming Apple Music.
Ecoute – More full-featured third-party client with downloads.

Nuvola Player – App with support for Apple Music and other cloud services.
MusicBee – Music player with Apple Music plugin available.

These provide alternative options to iTunes for accessing Apple Music. The advantage is a potentially simpler, lighter app. The disadvantage is they often lack full integration and support from Apple. But they can supplement iTunes or web access depending on your usage needs.

Enabling Offline Playback

If you want to save Apple Music songs for offline playback on your Windows laptop, here are some tips:

Use iTunes and look for the download button next to tracks, albums or playlists to download them.
On the web player, there is no offline playback option unfortunately.

With third-party apps, check if they support offline downloads for Apple Music tracks.
Downloaded songs will usually have a small arrow indicator next to their name.
Use the Filters button in iTunes to see all Downloaded Apple Music content.

Downloaded songs will allow you to keep listening even without an internet connection. This is useful for travel or areas with poor signal. Note that some third-party Windows apps may not support offline playback depending on Apple Music integration.

Audio Quality

Apple Music streams at 256kbps AAC by default, which is decent audio quality but not high resolution lossless. Here are some audio quality considerations:

iTunes allows changing to lossless audio in Preferences if you have the appropriate subscription tier.

The web player is limited to 256kbps AAC.
Third party apps may offer higher quality depending on implementation.
Listen on high quality headphones or speakers to get the most from your subscription.

Consider upgrading to Apple Music lossless if you have audiophile equipment.

While 256kbps AAC is good enough for most, upgrading to lossless is recommended for classical music or very high-end audio setups. On Windows, lossless Apple Music may only be available through certain third-party apps.

Finding and Adding Music

Apple Music has a vast catalog of over 100 million songs, so how do you find new music and add it your library? Here are some tips:

Use search to find specific artists, albums, songs, playlists or genres.
Check Apple Music recommendations on the Listen Now tab for new releases, playlists etc tailored to your taste.
Browse the Music tabs to explore new music by charts, curated playlists, music videos and more.

Use Siri on iOS to request music by voice commands.
Add albums, playlists or songs to Your Library for quick access later.
Follow artists to get notified about new releases from them.

Take some time to poke around the various sections of Apple Music to find exciting new tunes to listen to. Let Apple Music algorithms suggest music based on your listening history and liked genres. Over time it will learn your preferences and recommend better selections tuned to your taste.

Creating Playlists

Playlists let you group together songs around a theme or mood. Here’s how to create playlists with Apple Music:

Click + in the Playlists section to create a new (empty) playlist.

Give the playlist a name and description.
Search for songs or albums to add to the playlist.
Drag and drop to reorder tracks.

Click the download icon next to the playlist to save it for offline playback.
Click the More icon to edit details or make it public.

Playlists are great for organizing music for specific activities like workouts, parties, relaxing, studying etc. You can make playlists private or public to share with others. Sync playlists to your iPhone or iPad in iTunes.

Using on Multiple Devices

An Apple Music membership allows you to use the service on all your devices including:

iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Mac and Windows computers

Apple TV, smart TVs and games consoles
Android phones
Speakers such as HomePod using AirPlay

Your music library, playlists, preferences etc will stay in sync across devices automatically (except on Android where manual sync is required).

Some tips for multi-device use:

Download iTunes on all laptop/desktop computers for the best experience.

Use the Apple Music app on iPhone, iPad or Android.
Stream to TVs, consoles or speakers via AirPlay.
Enable iCloud Music Library sync in settings on iOS/iTunes.

Multi-device access allows you to keep listening to Apple Music anywhere conveniently. Transition seamlessly from your Windows laptop to iPhone when on the go.

Family Sharing

Apple Music Family Sharing allows up to 6 family members to share one Apple Music subscription using Family Sharing:

Set up Family Sharing from a parent iCloud account.

Add up to 5 family members to the group.
Enable Apple Music sharing in settings.
Each person gets their own Apple Music library and recommendations.

Great for families as it saves money over multiple subscriptions.

Family Sharing provides a cost-effective way for multiple household members to enjoy Apple Music. It works across all platforms including Windows laptops. Each person can freely access Apple Music without disrupting others’ listening habits.

Listening on Multiple Devices Simultaneously

Can you play Apple Music on your Windows laptop and iPhone at the same time from a single subscription? Unfortunately not – Apple Music only allows streaming on one device at a time per account.

If you try playing music on a second device, the first device will stop playback. However, there are a couple exceptions:

You can play Apple Music on an iPhone/iPad and an Apple Watch simultaneously.
Downloading content allows offline playback on multiple devices.

Using Family Sharing allows simultaneous usage across different accounts.

So for full multi-device simultaneous listening, the options are either Family Sharing or downloading for offline playback. But streaming will always be limited to one device at a time.

Subscription Options

Apple Music has a few subscription tiers available:

Individual Plan – $9.99/month. Standard tier for using on one device at a time.
Family Plan – $14.99/month. For up to 6 family members with Family Sharing.
Student Plan – $4.99/month. Discounted rate for eligible college students.

Voice Plan – $4.99/month. For access via Siri on Apple devices only.

The Individual Plan is suitable for most people’s needs. But Family Sharing provides a more cost-effective option for larger households. Students get a discount, and the Voice Plan provides Siri-only access on Apple devices.

There are also add-on subscriptions for lossless and spatial audio:

Lossless Audio – $9.99/month extra. Unlocks lossless 16-bit 44.1 kHz playback.
Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos – $4.99/month extra. For immersive Dolby Atmos music mixes.

These higher fidelity tiers appeal mainly to audiophiles with high-end audio hardware. For most users, the standard compressed streaming quality will suffice even on Windows laptops.

Cancelling Apple Music

You can cancel or disable auto-renewal for your Apple Music subscription at any time:

On iPhone/iPad/iPod, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions.
On Windows, go to Account > View My Account in iTunes.

Click Manage next to your Apple Music subscription.
Tap Cancel Subscription or Turn Off Auto-Renew.
Confirm cancellation on the next screen.

Your Apple Music access will immediately end. You can resubscribe at any time without losing your library. But make sure to download anything you want to keep first.

If you do not see Manage Subscription, your Apple Music plan was likely bundled with another Apple service subscription. Go to the main Subscriptions list and cancel the entire bundle.

Also check you do not have any unpaid Apple Music renewal invoices, or these will still need to be paid even after cancelling. Make sure the cancellation went through smoothly to avoid being charged again at the next renewal date.

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some troubleshooting tips for common Apple Music on Windows issues:

Song or album missing? Check it is actually available in your country’s Apple Music catalog.
Playback problems? Make sure the latest iTunes version is installed.

Can’t login? Check your password is correct and two-factor authentication is not blocking sign in.
Music not downloading? Check your laptop storage space and internet connection speed.
Audio sounds bad? Try adjusting the audio quality in iTunes settings.

Can’t find music? Search is not effective sometimes, so browse Music sections manually.

For additional help, you can use the Apple Music user guide for Windows, visit Apple Music support pages or join Apple Music communities to ask other users. Reaching out to Apple support directly should be a last resort.

Conclusion

In summary, Apple Music can be downloaded and used on a Windows laptop through iTunes or the web player, allowing access to millions of songs from the Apple Music catalog. While the native app experience is better on Apple devices, Windows users can still enjoy Apple Music and synchronize across devices. With the right software and settings, you can get the most out of Apple Music on a Windows laptop for streaming, downloading, and managing music playback. Some compromises in features may be required, but audio quality and core functionality remain solid. For Apple Music on the go, a Windows laptop provides flexibility to keep listening seamlessly alongside Apple device usage.